Sang Nila Utama saw a lion… or did he?

Singapore's history is a lot wilder than the textbooks let on. In Book 1 of the Haywire Histories comic series, writer Ng Yi-Sheng and illustrator Vandana Tjendana dig up strange, funny and surprising stories from pre-colonial Temasek. Readers follow Rajendra Chola I into a mermaid kingdom, watch Sang Nila Utama arrive in the Lion City, and meet early kings and legendary children like Hang Nadim and Radin Mas Ayu.

Why kids love it

• Comic-style non-fiction that reads like an adventure
• Myths, legends and real history side by side, so kids learn to ask "what really happened?"
• A fun way into Singapore history for reluctant readers

Look out for Book 2, Crazy Colonisers.